IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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HiotQgraphic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  USSO 

(716)  •72-4903 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  l^/licroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Instituta  hat  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
tha  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I   Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  peliiculAe 


I     I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartas  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I     I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  aJoutAas 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  taxte, 
mats,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  4tA  filmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantairas: 


The( 
toth 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6tA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  imege  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mllthoda  normala  de  f ilmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurtos  et/ou  peiliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachat^es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachdas 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiit^  inigala  de  i'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~^  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~y|  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I     I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


The  I 
poss 
ofth 
filmii 


Origi 
begii 
the  I 
sion, 
othei 
first 
sion, 
or  III 


The  I 
nhall 
TiNl 
whic 

IMapi 
diffa 
antir 
begii 
right 
requi 
metli 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc  ,  ont  M  f ilmtos  i  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 

12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


lire 

details 
Lies  du 
:  modifier 
ger  une 
ffilmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  hat  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

^" Library  of  the  Public 

Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  In  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArosit*  de: 

La  bibliothAque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Les  Images  suKfantes  ont  tt€  reprodultes  avec  le 
plus  grand  soln,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  st 
de  la  nettetA  de  rexemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


f 
i6es 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sent  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
r.hall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN  ". 


ire 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  h  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'Images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mMhode. 


ly  errata 
Bd  to 

nt 

ne  pelure, 

i9on  d 


1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


I 


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i 

I" 

i 


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LETT   E   R 

FROM 
A  GENTLEMAN  to  his  FRIEND, 

IN  '  ^^    .     > 

ENGLAND, 

DESCRIPTIVE  or  the  DIFFERENT 
SETTLEMENTS  I  If  TBE  PROriNCE 
■     .  '    OF 

UPPER  CANADA. 


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PHILADELPHIA: 

Printed  by  W.  W.  WOODWARD,  Franklin's  Head,    E 

iV«y  Sign^  South  Side  Chefnut'ftreet,  ji 

bo^  <itf>^  c0>i  t(9->  Hi» 

1795- 

4|  s£2  gifa(^'^t-;*i>t^"^<^''gfec^'>g^''^gfe(^g^ 


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rtj., 


To    THE    PRINTER. 


A- 


.S  all  new  fettlements  in  their  pro- 
grefsy  exhibit  new  fce?ies  to  the  eye  of  the  curious^ 
and  more  or  lefs  attract  the  attention  of  the  farmer, 
the  merchant^  and  philcfophery  it  becomes  a  pleafant 
tajk  to  a  liberal  mind^  from  time  to  time  to  mark  that 
progrefsy  and  impartially  tranfmit  any  information  to 
the  community t  whereby  they  may  be  likely  to  benefit^ 
but  more  efpecially  to  that  clafs  of  men  who  cultivate 
the  foil ;  for  by  their  profperity  are  every  other  defa  ip- 
tion  of  men  benefitedy  and  commercey  artSy  and  fciences 
promoted. 


^^ 


i!l 


If  the  following  letter  fliould  anfwer  any  of  thefe 
defireable  ends,  the  objeil  of  the  publijher  will  be  fully 
attained,, 


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'^"'•'t'' 


L  E   T   T   E   R. 


NeMj'Tork,  2C>th  November^  '794* 


.'  I,    ■  ^        a    L 


.  MY  PEAR  FRIEND, 


s 


I  N  C  E  I  had  laft  the  pleafure  of  writing  to 
youfrom  this  city,  in  which  I  gave  you  a  particu- 
Ut  defcription  of  the  lands  in  thisftate,  and  in  the 
ftaic  of  Pennfylvania,  together  with  the  mode  of 
fettlement,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  arc  to 
be  purchafed,  1  have  made  a  tour  through  th« 
province  of  Upper  Canada,  and  fhall  endeavor  to 
give  you  a  particular  and  impartial  account  of  that 
country,  (bfar  as  I  have  travelled  through  it,  with 
its  laAvs,  government,  j.  id  commercial  advantages. 
In  my  letter  from  Albany,  I  mentioned  that  I  went 
to  th»t  city  by  water,  from  thence  I  proceeded  to  . 
Scheneftady,  fifteen  miles  by  ftage.  Schenedlady  is 
a  handfomely  fituated  little  town  on  the 'banks  of 
dae  Mohawk  river,  inhabited  nioftly   by  Low.-- 


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Dutch,  but  from  the  appearance  of  the  place,  one 
would  imagine  it  a  deferted  village,  the  houfes  be- 
ing generally  old,  fmall,  and  nioftly  fhut  up,  but 
furrounded  by  the  fined  ilat$  of  intervail  land 
you  can  pofTibly  imagine,  which  continue  to  the 
fource  of  that  river*  The  defolate  appearance  of 
this  town  was  accounted  for  to  me  by  the  current 
of  Indian  trade  turning  down  the  River  St.  Lau<*' 
rence,  tince  the  revolution.  It  has,  however, 
the  profpeft  of  becoming  a  flouriiliing  place,  ere 
long,  by  the  vail  increafe  of  the  fettlements  to  the 
wed  of  it,  the  produce  oi  which    mull  cenire 

there. At  this  place  I  took  an  open  boat,  na« 

yigated  by  three  men^  in  which  I  paiTed  to  Lake- 
Ontario,  without  any  other  interruption  than  two 
fhort  portages,  one  at  Uie  little  falls  of  half  a 
mile,  round  which  they  are  now  cutting  a  canal ; 
the  other  of  one  mile,  at  Fort  Stanvix,  about  one 
hundred  miles  weft  of  "Schenedtady  j  av  which 
place  we  leave  the  Mohawk  river,  and  defcend 
the  current  to  Ofwego,  one  hundred  miles  more 
to  the  weft,  where  the  Briiifli  hold  a  poft  at  the 
entrance  of  Lake  Ontario,  commanded  by  a  cap- 
tain, from  whom  I  received  every  mark  of  civili- 
ty and  attention.     A  Cuftoni-Houfe  Otiicer  is  alfo 
ftationed  there  to  prevent  an  illicit  trade  being 
carried  on  between  the  United  States  and  the  Bri^ 
tilh  Colonies.     No  merchandize  in,  nor  furs  out. 


'-  V     ^ 


•Vff*; 


i'« 


slace,  one 
ioufes  be- 
lt upi,  but 
vail  land 
uc  to  the 
larance  of 
e  current 
St.  Laii# 
however, 
place,  ere 
rnts  to  the 
uft  centre 
boat,  na« 
Z(l  to  Lake- 
n  thaatwo 
of  half  a 
ig  a  canal ; 
^  about  one 
;  at  which 
id  defcend 
miles  Diore 
poft  at  the 
d  by  a  cap- 
rk  of  civili- 
tficer  is  alfo 
trade  being 
md  the  Bri^ 
kor  furs  ottt^ 


are  permitted  to  pafs  this  pod,  without  a  pafTport 
from  the  Governor  of  Upper  Canada ;  but  fettlers 
moving  into  that  province  torefide,  are  permitted 
indifcriminately  to  pafs  with  all  utenlils  of  hufband- 
ry,  houihold  furniture,  and  (lores  for  their  own 
confumption— — — The  high  prices  which  hatters' 
fur  at  prefent  command  in  the  United  States  is 
the  only  inducement  I  conceive  for  fmuggling  paft 
that  poll,  for  except  a  few  articles  imported  from 
the  £aft  Indies,  I  found  the  retail  (hops  at  King- 
ilon  and  Niagara,  felling  as  low,  and  many  articles, 
particularly  woolens,  lower  than  in  the  City  of 
Philadelphia* 

From  Ofvvcgc,  veffels  fail  to  Niagara,  Kingfton, 
and  any  other  port  on  the  lake  *  but  iiettlers  more 
frequently  continue  along  the  fouth  f]>ore  of  the 
lake  to  Niagara,  about  one  hundred  and  tweniy 
miles  in  the  fame  open  boats  which  bring  them  ' 
hither,  as  they  ^re  generally  manned  by  them- 
felves.  But  finding  a  veffel  here  ready  to  fail  fo? 
Kingiton,  I  difmifled  my  boatmen>  and  embar. 
ked  in  her  for  that  place,  about  twelve  hours 
fail. 

Klngjlon  is  a  new,  but  growing  town,  fitua^te  on 
the  north  eaft  corner  of  Lake  Ontario,  where  that 
Lake  empties  itfelf^   and    forft  tlie.  river   Su 


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Laurence,  the  hanks  of  which  are  thick  fettled 
down  to  Lake  St.  Francois,  where  the  provin- 
ces of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada  are  divided.  This 
river  is  navigably  for  veffels  of  one  hundred  tons, 
and  upwards,  to  Ofwegatche,  feventy  miles  below 
Kinglton,butve{relsfeldamgodowntheriver,»9the 
fort  which  is  at  Kingilun  iierves  as  a  depoiit  for  all 
the  public  itores,  proviliun,  ind  merehandife  foi^ 
the  upper  poils. 

The  land  rmmediately  nbuat  Kingtlon,  is  co- 
vered by  valuable  quarries  of  lime-ilone,  and 
through  all  the  fettleinents  round  it  are  plenty  of 
thin  valuable  {tones,  which  are  confidered  by  the 
inhabitants  raihef  9s  an  acquifiiion  thaa  detri- 
xnent  to  their  plantations*  i  be  moit  flouriihing^ 
part  of  this  fettlement  is  round  the  bay  of  Kenty,. 
the  foil  of  which  is  rich,  eafy  worked,  and  pro- 
duces from  one  to  three  crops,  without  any  otheL* 
cultivation  than  what  is  dene  by  the  iron  tooth 
harrow,  and  yields  from  20  to  30  bufliels  of  wheat 
to  the  acre  j  thofe  lands  ar€  foniewhat  heavy* 
timbered,  having  vaft  quantities  ©f  tire  ftigar- 
Boaple,  hickory  and  bafs  wood,  and  in  fame  place* 
^'hitc  pines  of  a  furprifmg  height^  but  where  the 
latter  grows  the  land  is  more  fandy,  and  sl- 
though  it  is  warm,  fw>eet  land,,  it  is  not  fo  ftony 
»&  the  mapte  «r  OWL  laiid.     This  baj^   i&  i&vGiitf 


\L 


■'i'ifif^f--- 


hick  fectlec! 
the  provin- 
'ided.  This 
Hilred  torn, 
niles  below 
•ivcr,»sthe 
polic  for  all 
landiftr  fo#> 


on,  is  co>- 
\oi\e,   and 
::  plenty  of 
ed  by  the 
baa  iietri- 
lourirtiing^ 
of  Kenty^ 
and  pro- 
any  other 
ron  tooth 
of  wheat 
lat  heavy^ 
ve  fiijrar- 
ne  place* 
^here  the 


miles  in  length,  beginning  about  twenty  miles 
South  Weft  from  Kingilon,  leaving  a  neck  of 
land  fro.n  two  to  twelve  miles  wide,  between  it 
and  the  lake,  all  of  which  is  fettled,  and  round 
the  whole  bay  fo  thick  fettled,  that  their  im* 
provenicnts  already  meet,  and  form  the  appear- 
ance of  a  beautiful  old  fettled  country.  This  bay 
and  the  creeks  emptying  into  it,  abound  in  great 
quantities  of  wild  fowl,  and  filli  of  various  kinds*. 

From  Kingfton  I  proceeded  to  Niagara,  in-  a 
fchooner  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  tons  burthen 
acrofs  this  little  fca  of  frefh.  water  ;  afca  it  may 
juftly  be  called,  for  we  were  a  great  part  of  the. 
time  for  three  days  out  of  fight  of  the  land ; 
though  pafiages  have  been  made  in  twenty  hours  ; 
we  enter  the  Niagara  river  between  the  fort  and 
the  town  called  Newark,  with  a  beautiful  prop- 
ped of  both.  ;;  j,' 

The  fort  ftands  in  ^  commanding  fituation,  on 
a  point  formed  by  the  jundion  of  the  river  and 
lal^e,  upon  the  Eaft  fide  of  the  river,  and  is  a  re* 
gular  fortification,  in  good  repair,  and  well  ga^-^ 
rifoned*  .  : 


* 


j 


The  mouth  of  this  river  afforck  a  fjtife  and  co-. 
pious  harbour,  fufficiently  large  ftr  half  the  Brl^ 
tiih  navy* 


■■¥ 


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■""■III   iiiii  «■! 


■'•ir 


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lO 

The  town  of  Newark  is  fituate  in  htitnde  43 
north,  oil'  the  Weil  banks  of  the  river,   extend- 
ing along  the  lake  about  a  mile,  enjoying  in  the 
fummer   the  frefh  breezes  from  this  little  fea,  in 
alniofl:  every  direction,  plentrfuUy  fupplred  with 
fiflt  at  all  feafoi>s  of  the  year.     In  the  winter  here 
are  caifght  by  feines,    quantities  of  white  fifli, 
which  feem  to  be  pecnliar  to  that  river,  they  are 
generally  from  two  to  lix^  pounds  weight,  and  are 
confidered  the  bcft  filh  in  the  lakes  ;  befides  there 
fturgeon,  bafs,  jmd  many  other  excellent  fifli,  are 
in  great  plenty ;  falwon  are  taken  in  all  the  creeks 
round  the  la-ke ;  thefe  varieties  of  fifli   are   not 
only  effeeiaed  a- luxury,   but  a  great  aififta'nce  to 
:iew  beginners  in  fbpporting  their  fafniliei,  many 
laying  in  a  half  dozen  barrels  or  more  for  their 
winter's  ufe. 


■ji 


.A  •>., 


'   i 


The  land  about  the  town  of  Newark  fcfr  Ai^y 
miles,^  though  not  fo  good  as  the  land  further 
back  is  well  inhabited  each  way  upwards  of  fifty 
miles  around— —What  gave  me  a  more  parti- 
cular knowledge  of  this  fettlement  was,  being 
intimate  with  the,  Surveyor-General,  a  gentle- 
man of  liberal  education,  good  information,  and 
indefatigable  in  the  duties  of  his  office,  by  which 
means  he  has  c^le^ed  notes,'  from  the  different 
field-books  of  his  Deputies,  of  the  foil,  timber, 


or  n 


here 
8  bafs  \ 


'A  radlei 


fe*P^ 


and  ftreamsy  of  all  that  country  ;  and  fuch  parts 
as  I  went  over  I  found  his  notes  very  correct, 
and  by  no  means  exaggerated.  In  many  places 
there  is  little  more  for  the  farmer  to  do,  than  cut 
a  fnfficiency  of.  timber  to  fence  his  fields,  girdle 
or  ring  the  remainder,  and  put  in  the  harrow, 
for  in  few  places  only  is  it  neceflary  to  make  ufe 
of  the  plough,  till  the  fecond  or  third  croip,  there 
ibeing  little  or  no  under  brufh  ;  yet  in  many  pla- 
ces, there  is  beautiful  white  pine,  oak  and  black 
walnut  timber;  fugar  wood  which  is  alfo  found 
here  in  plenty  mixed  with  beach,  hickory,  and 
bafs  wood. 


r 


(' 


At  Newark  refides  the  Governor  whofe  cha« 
[rader  is  well  known,  in  England,  andisideferved- 
[ly  held  here  in  high  eftimation— Here  are  alfo 
Imoik  of  the  principle  officers  of  government, 
jbefides  many  other  gentlemen  of  xefpeiStability 
.who  form -a  very  intelligent  and  agreeable  .focie- 

I^efides  Newark  there  are  feveral  important 
i  fituations  in  this  part  of  the  province,  which  bid 
I  fair  to  become  places  of  confequence,  the  moft 
[important  of  which  art,  the  landing  places  at 
:ach  end  of  the  portage,  Fort  £rie^   the  head  of 


y 


\ 


A 


m' 


12 


\   ! 


Lake  Ontario^   and  York,  called  by  the  natives 
Torento. 

The  lower  landhig  or  Qucenfton  is  about  fe« 
ven  miles  up  the  river  from  Newark,  where  the 
veflels  difcharge  their  cargoes,  and  take  in  furrs 
toileted  from  three  to  one  thoufand  five  hundred 
miles  back,  there  have  I  feen  four  veflels  of  fixty 
^nd  one  hundred  tons  burden  unloading  at  the 
fame  time,  and  fometimes  not  lefs  than  fixty 
waggons  loaded  in  a  day,  which  loads  they  carry 
ten  miles  to  the  upper  landing  place  or  Chipawa 
Creek,  three  miles  paft  the  great  falls.  This  port- 
age is  an  encreafing  fource  of  wealth  to  the  farm- 
ers for  many  miles  f-bund,  who  carry  from  twenty 
to  thirty  hundred  weight  for  which  they  get  one 
(hilling  and  eight  pence  N.  Y.  currency,  per  hun- 
dred weight,  and  generally  load  back  with  furrs 
&c. — From  Chipawa  the  merchandize  is  tranf- 
ported  in  batteaux  to  Fort  Erie  a  diflance  of 
eighteen  miles  and  are  fliipped  there  on  board  of 
veflels  for  Detroit  and  MichiUmackinac. — Detroit 
I  was  told  was  a  pleafant  country,  though  a  low 
and  marfliy  foil,  more  noted  for  its  furr  trade, 
than  its  agriculture. 

At  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  about  fifty  miles 
wen  from  Newark  a  fmall  town  is  laid  out  and 


^:l      \       ^■- 


ml 


15 

public  ftores  are  building,  i)cing  a  central  place 
l)ctween  Newark,  York  and  Detroit,  from  thence 
a  road  of  twenty  two  miles  to  the  grand  river  is 
cut  out  and  croffes  that  river  about  fifty  miles 
above  its  entrance  into  Lake  Erie,  and  continues 
in  a  fouthern  direftion  to  the  river  La  Trenthc, 
now  called  the  Thames,  which  empties  itfclf  into 
Lake  St.  Clair,  about  twenty  miles  above  Detroit. 
Settlements  arc  making  on  this  road,  and  along 
the  river  Thames  partial  ones  are  made  for  au  ex« 
tent  of  eighty  or  ninety  miles  in  length— On 
thefe  two  rivers  arc  extenfive  open  flatts  of  land 
equal  to  thofe  of  the  Mohawic  river,  on  which 
may  be  cut  a  fufficiency  of  hay  for  many  thoufand 
head  of  cattle  yearly  ;  the  lands  on  this' road  are 
of  an  excellent  quality  and  in  many  places  light 
timbered,  in  others  covered  with  thrifty  oak, 
4>lack  walnut,  fugar  maple,  beach  and  lindar* 

T^rk  formerly  Torento  is  fituate  on  the  beft 
harbour  round  the  lake,  oppoQte  Niagara,  and 
about  forty  miles  didance  acrofs  the  lake,  but 
round  by  land  near  one  hundred  miles,  along  the 
fhore  of  which  great  quantities  bf  fifh  are  caught ; 
a  town  is  here  in  great  forwardnefs,  and  fhould 
the  feat  of  government  be  removed  from  Newark 
thence,  as  is  contemplated,  it  will  foon  become  a 
ilourifliing  place—— From  this  a  road  h<:\it  out 

B 


<n 


;  ii 

ii. 


\ 


'i 


4 


.-*. 


M 


i 


.It 


^crofs  to  Lake  Sitncoc,  or  the  Rice  Lakes  thicty 
tthree  miles,  the  outlet  of  which  empties  iifclf  in* 
to  Lake  Huron  a  diftance  of  forty  five  miles  from 
Lake  Simcoe,  thirty  fix  miles  in  length  ;  this  rout 
affords  an  eafy  communication  with  Michilimac* 
kinac* — From  York  to  that  lake,  a  tier  of  lotts  of 
two  hundred  acres  each,  is  laid  out  on  each  fide 
of  this  road  called  Dundas-Jlreet^  granted  on  the 
vcxprefs  condition  of  building  and  improving  on 
them,  within  one  year  from  the  time  they  are 
taken  up ;  many  of  thefe  are  now  built  upon  and 
•occupied. 

On  the  eafl  fide  and  joining  the  rear  of  thefe 
Jotts  is  a  .fettlement  of  near  one  hundred  German 
families,  on  an  excellent  traft  of  land,  much  of 
which  is  open,  white  oak  woods ;  thefe  Germans 
came  on  this  fummer,  furnifhed  with  every  thing 
neceflfary  to  make  their  fituation  comfortable  and 
enable  them  to  improve  their  land  to  advantage, 
and  no  doubt  in  a  fliort  time  will  make  a  fine  fet- 
tlement ;  they  are  fupported  by  a  company  who 
have  liberally  fupplied  them.  With  teams,  farm- 
ing  utenfils  and  provifions,  fent  them  a  Clergyman 
of  their  own  country,  and  are  about  to  build  them 
jnills,  a  church,  and  fchool  houfc 


I: 


-. .— •--•44tfiBap.,^ 


I" 


jakes  thirty 
;ies  itfelf  in* 
t  miles  from 
h ;  this  roue 
Michilimac- 
?r  of  lotts  of 
on  each  (ide 
nted  on  the 
proving  on 
le  they  are 
It  upon  and 


ar  of  thefe 
'ed  German 
L  much  of 
"e  Cfermans 
very  thing 
^rtable  and 
advantage, 
;  a  fine  fee- 
pany  who 
ams,  farm, 
lergyman 
}uild  them 


■M 


is 

If  this  generous  example  was  with  equal  fpi- 
rit  followed  by  a  few  more  companies,  it  would 
add  to  the  population  of  the  country,  more  than 

any  other  mode  yet  purfned. There  is  (liU 

plenty  of  vacantlands  of  the  bert  kind,  and  fuch 
as  ihew  a  difpofition  to  fettlfl  and  improve  them, 
meet  from  the  Governor  every  encouragement 
they  merit,  who  makes  liberal  grants  to  all  fuch 
as  do  adually  bring  on  fettlcrs,  and  prove  them- 
fdves  defirous  of  promoting  the  intereft  of  the 
country,  the  whole  of  which  is  well  adapted  for 
raifing^  wheat,  indian  corn,  and  other  fummer 
grain;  flax  (where  the  land  has  borne  a  few 
other  crops)  fucceeds  remarkably  well,  and  the 
face  of  the  whole  country  yields  grafs  in  abun- 
dance ;  hops  of  a  good  quality  grow  here  fpon- 
taneoufly,  alfo  a  variety  of  wild  fruits  fuch  as 
plumbs,  mulberry,  blackberry,  ftrawberry,  rafp- 
berry  and  grapes.— Orchard!>  are  in  great  for- 
wardnefs,  for  the  age  of  the  fettlemcnt,  fome  of, 

which  already  bear  fruit. Peaches,  cherries, . 

and  currants  are  plenty  among  all  the  firft  fer- 
tlers. — ^The  farmers  raife  great  quantity  of  pork, 
without  any  other  expence  than  a  little  indian 
corn,  fur  a  few  weeks  previous  to  killing,  and 
often  kill  their  hogs  out  of  the  woods,  well  fat- 
ted on  nuts ;  in  many  places  fait  fprings  have . 
bcei>  difcovered,  and  fame  of  them  already  work-  . 


i    ■  ■ 


L-..**-J,,-»-^-,   .     ,-. 


"•*    -r  . 


Atu 


i6 


ed  to  fuch  advantage  that  in  all  probability  that 
article,  which  generally  ccmes  heavy  in  the  inte- 
rior part  of  a  country,  may  in  a  fliort  time  be  af. 
forded  here,  as  low  as  in  many  of  the  old  fettled 

places  ii*  the  United  States Many  valuable 

ftreams  for  water  works,  run  in  every  direction 
through  this  country;  and  upon  foms  of  them 
are  mills  built,  which  prove  very  'ucrative  to  the 
owners,  particularly  faw-mills,  from  the  quantity 
of  good  timber  and  great  demand  of  boards,  ai 
more  buildings  are  going  on  than  carpenters  and 
niafons  can  be  found  to  finifh  :  ftones  being  fcarce, 
bricks  are  generally  ufed  in  mafon  work« 


i  °^ 


^i 


This  fettleraent  was  begun  by  a  few  difbanded 
troops  after  the  peace  of  ijB^,  and  being  but 
little  known  by  the  people,  of  the  United  States, 
who  had  imbibed  an  opinion  that  it  was  entirely 
under  control  of  the  military,  few  euiigrants 
bent  their  courfe  this  way,  till  they  were  con- 
vinced of  the  civil  government,  being  well  efta- 
bliflied,  and  upon  a  conftirution  happily  adopted 
to  the  minds  of  the  people,  fince  which  numbers, 
of  refpedable  inhabitants  have  tome  in  from  the 
different  States.  Some  of  whom  have  come  in 
their  waggons  quite  from  North  Carolina,  btit 
as  there  is  a  fpace  of  country^  for  about  feventy 
m'des,  between  Niagara  and  the  Gcnefce  coun- 


ability  that 
in  the  inte- 

time  beaf* 
f  old  fettled 
ly  valuable 
y  dire<ftion 
IS  of  them 
uive  to  the 
lie  quantity 

boards,  a& 
(enters  and 
eing  fcarce, 

V  difbanded 
being  but 
ted  States, 
as  entirely 
euiigranrs 
were  con- 
well  efta- 
y  adopted 
I  number& 
from  the 
e  come  in 
olina,  but 
It  feventy 
efcc  coun- 


r7 

try,  where  the  roads  are  not  fufficiently  open  for 
waggons,  they  tranfport  them  from  the  mouth 
of  that  river  to  Niagara  in  boats*     However  this 
obftrudlion  will  probably  be  foon  removed,  when 
k  will  be  a  pleafant  jaunt  to  get  into  a  carriage  at 
Niagara,  and  drive  to  this  city,   which  may  be 
e0e^ed  without  diificulty,  in  about  two  weeks,  par- 
ticularly by  fleighs  in  the  winter. — The  mode  of 
fettlemcnt  generally  purfued   here,    and   which 
feems  beft  calculated  to  fave  expence,   is  by  two,  . 
three  or  more  men  coming  on  in   the  fummer, 
who  throw  up  a  iOg  houfe  each,  put  in  a  £eld  of 
wheat,  and  return  for  their  familief,  which  they 
bring  on  the  following  fpring,  by  the  rout  be^ 
fore   defcribed  paft   Ofwego,  if  by  water;  but 
fuch  as  come  by  land,   bring  their  families  as  far 
as  the  mouth  of  Genefee  river,  there  take  boat, 
and  fend  their  cattle  by  land*     This  country  from 
the  redudion  till  the  year  1790,   was  included  in 
the  province  of  Quebec,  and  from  the  year  1774,  , 
theciviladminiftration  was  veiled  in  a  Governor 
and  Legiflative  Council,  at  that  time  beft  adapt-  . 
cd  to  the  ideas  of  the  people,   who  were  moft 
entirely  French,  and  from  prejudice,  preferred 
that  form  of  government,   being  moft  analogous  ^ 
to  what  they  had  been  accuftomed  to  prior  to  the  • 
cpnqueft  of  Canada,  bur  at  the  condulion  of  the  , 
Ulc^diffentionsbetwcen  Great  Britain  and  Ani«?.,- 

n  2 


i 


I  - 


'.') 


;i 


18 

rica,  Upper  Canada,  then  called  the  back  poft'i^ 
was  held  out  as  an  aiTylum  to  thofe  who  had  ad- 
hered to  the  unity  of  the  Britifh  Empire,  and  w4io 
generally  came  under  the  'denomination  of  Loy- 
alifts. — From  the  peace  to  the  year  1790,  go- 
vernment delegated  to  land  boards  the  power  of 
granting  lands  to  any  applicants,  if  men  of  mora- 
lity and  fobriety. 

In  the  year  1790,  the  wifdom  of  the  Britifli 
government,  was  eminently  evinced  in  dividing 
that- large  country,  into  tvtro  feparate  govern- 
ments, and  granting  to  each  a  conditution;  on 
the  moft  liberal  and  difinterefted  principles,  a 
conllitution  for  freedom  and  the  jufl;  rights  of 
man,  perhaps  unequalled  in  the  hiftoric  page, 
with  all  the  advantages,  enjoyed  by  the  Britifh 
colonies  in  America  previous  to  the  revolution, 
and  with  many  additional,  the  Britifh  Parlia- 
ment having  renounced  for  ever  the  right  of  tax- 
ation*— Here  no  man's  property  for  any  caufe 
whatever,  is  taxed,  directly  or  indire»llly  ;  the 
Britiih  government  moft  generoufiy  paying  for 
even  the  furveying  of  the  lands,  and  the  whole 
fupport  of  the  civil  eftablifhment. 


1 "«' 

%  am 

1  the 

Iffl  the 

■  dou 

Wit  e 

«Brit 

v\iorSBB 

^this 

^m  veri 

^qulr 

■  difFa 

Hthus 

Wvant 

^Mfthe 

;4 


You  will  naturally  wonder,  how  with  all  thefc 
advantages  this  country  has  hitherto  efcaped  the 


-•"f  _'-^-«8.'ifciX ' 


jack  poftil^ 
a  had  ad- 
,  and  w-fao 
n  of  Loy- 
1790,  gQ. 
power  of 
of  mora- 


he  Britifh 
1  dividing 
E  govern, 
tution,  on 
inciples,  a 
;  rights  of 
3ric  page, 
he  Britifh 
evolution, 
(h  Parlia. 
t  of  tax- 
any  caufc 
aiy  ;   the 
aying  for 
he  whole 


3 


^9 

notice  and  keen  obfervations  of  Land  Speculators^ 
and  theelogenms  of  Pamphleteers  too  frequently 
the  hired  and  ufeful  afiiftant  of  the  former  clafs 
of  men,  but  this  I  have  found  is  accounted  for  on 
the  beft  of  principles.      The  Indians  being  un- 
doubtedly the  original  proprietors  of  the  foil,  and 
y  it  even  has  and  continues  to  be  the  policy  of  the 
|Britifh  government  to  extinguiih  their  right,  by 
[fair  and  equiiable  purchafes*     Large  purchafes  of 
'  this  kind  has  been  made  from  time  to  time  by  go- 
vernment, as  the  population  of  the  country  re^ 
Inquired,  and  as  yet  there  is  not  a  (ingle  inftance  of 
i difTatisf action  on  the  part  of  the  Indians;  having 
thus  liberally  paid  them  for  their  lands,  very  ad- 
|vantageous  terms  are  held  out  to  a^ual  fettles, 
[the  onlyclafs  which  at  firft  can  enrich  any  coun" 
iry)  who  get  a  grant  of  two  hundred  acres  each- 
[owever  for  the  encouragement  of  men,  com« 
landing  the  means  of   improving  on  a  larger 
Icale,   by  proper  application  they  get  a  hand> 
ibme  additional  quantity.      By  thiw  means   the 
fubftantial  farmer  becomes   the  inhabitant,  and 
large  trads  to  the  detriment  of  any  country,  ne- 
rer  lie  wafte* 


1 


i.    'i 


V'  '  ■! 


all  thefe 
leaped  the 


Had  I  not  refolved  on  e^camining  minutely,  and 
idging  for  Inyfelf,  I  ihould  never  have  become 
:quainted  with  a  country  which  for  richnefs  of 


20 

foil,  agriculture  and  trade^  in  faA  every  thing 
that  will  conduce  to  make  an  induftrious  man  hap*, 
py,  yeildlng  to  none  I  have  as  yet  feen* 

Niagara  is  at  prefent  the  temporary  feat  of  go- 
vernment, condfling  of  a  governor,  a  legiflative 
council,  and  houfe  of  afTembly  chofen  by  the  peo- 
ple ;  here  annually  in  the  month  of  May,  they 
meet  for  the  purpofe  of  legiflation. — Members  of 
the  afTembly  are  chofen  for  four  years,  and  have 
already  fat  three  fefTions* — In  this  time  they  have 
made  many  wholefome  and  neceffary  laws.i  ,. 
Weekly  courts,  called  courts  of  requeflj  are 
held  throughout  the  province,  by  two  juftices  of 
the  peace,  who  have  cognizance.of.  all  debts  un^ 
der  half  a  Joe;  there  are  alfo  diftrift  courts  every 
three  months,  in  which  fi judge  prefides,  and  gives 
trial  by  a  jury  of  twelvemen,  in  funis  not  exceed- 
ing twenty  four  pound  York  currency,whofe  judg- 
ment is  unappealable^  and  all  fums  above  that,  are 
tried  by  a.  jury  before  the  chief  juflice  and  two  afr 
fociate  judges,  who  make  an  annual  circuit  through 
the  province ;  from  them  is  an  appeal  to  the  go- 
vernor andcounciL The  people  have  it  ful- 
ly in  their  power  to  regulate  all  local  matters 
which  refpe^  their  feveral  towns,  fuch  as  conila- 
bles,  path>maflers,  and  other  town  officers,  in  thQ 
fame  manuer  as  forwei:l^  iii.tlie  other  coluoics^ 


'*- 


■■*»*. 


every  thing 
)us  Tiian  hap*. 

• 
y  feat  of  go» 
a  legiflative 
1  by  the  peo- 
f  May,  they 
-Members  of 
rs,  and  have 
iTie  they  have 
ry  laws.f^ — -r- 
requeft>   are 
vvo  juftices  of 
all  debts  uni> 
t  courts  every 
ies,  and  gives 
s  not  exceed- 
^whofcjudg- 
love  that,  arc 
eand  twoafr 
•cuit  through 
il  to  the  go. 
le  have  it  ful- 
ocal  matters 
ch  as  confta* 
cers,  in  tha 
,er  colonics^ 


21 

now  United  States  of  America*         The  militia 
Un  the  lieveral  diflricls  have  an  annual  meeting, 
nd  all  males  from  the  age  of  fixteen  to  forty-five 
re  muftered,  except  the  Friends,  Tunkers,  and 
enonifts,  and  thofe  of  that  religious  defcription, 
'Vho  are  exempted  from  bearing  arms.     In  ihorr, 
Ir,  it  would  fwell  a  letter  to  too  great  a  bulk  to  give 
more  minute  account  of  the  local  laws  that  have 
een  already  made  for  the  public  good,  fufBce  it  to 
ay,  that,  with  refped  to  that  government  and  its 
laws,  its  adminiftration  is  conducted  with  every 
ifh  and  attention  to  render  the  fituation  of  thqfe 
ho  may  fettle  under  it  comfortable  and  happy^  > 
eing  neither  land  tax,  quit  rent,  or  any  other 
ax  whatever,  excepting  the  county  rates,  to  btih 
id  by  the  freeholders,  for  the  regulation  of 
eir  internal  police* 

The  noble  river  St.  Laurence  fupplies  this  coun<» 

for  an  extent  of  two  thoufand  miles  with  com^ 

ercial  advantages  inferior  to  none  on  this  (ideof 

e  Atlantic— Conceive  to  yourfelf  veffels  of  fix 

ndred  tons  burthen,  unloading  all  kincU  of  Brt* 

fh  goods  at  the  port  of  Montreal,  five  hnndred 

ilesfrom  the  fea,  and  again  receiving  in  return^ 

urs  from  the  interior  parts  of  the  country,  as  far 

»  the  Milfifippi  i%  known  to  the  weft  ward,  and' 

e  waters  erfiptying  iifio  Lake  Superior  from  the 

orthwardi— — This*  towo>  when  the  banks  of 


I' 


]i 


) 


\ 


■■*^ 


!»iJ5a*i; 


.m^*"n 


"><" 


22 


t  ■  Vi 


the  different  lakes  and  rivcrt  are  fettled  by  liuf- 
bandnien,  w  hich  is  at  no  diftatit  period,  mud  have 
a  vaft  incrcafe  of  trade,  for  without  doubt  all 
Britifti  maiiufaCliires,  through  tliefe  vaft  water 
communications,  will  come  much  cheaper,  through 
the  whole  courfe  of  its- windings,  than  can  be  af- 
forded from  any  other  quarter.  Goods  on  impor- 
tation being  liable  to  ro  datv ;  which  will  un« 
doubtedly  give  this  country  a  vaft  sdvintage  over 
the  new  fettlements  that  I  defcribed  in  my  former 
letters;  mdeed  nature  points  out  this  place  as  the 
emporium  of  trade  for  the  people  inhabiting  both 
(ides  of  thefe  lakes  and  rivers  emptying  into  them 
a^far  as  they  extend  to  the  weft.  From  Montreal. 
^M//  called  by  the  Canadians  batteaux,  containing 
twenty  6ve  barrels  bulk,  are  worked  by  four  men 
toKingfton,  a  diftance  of  nigh  two  hundred  miles 
up  the  river  in  the  courfe  of  fix  or  eight  days, 
and  again  return  in  three,  loaded  with  furs,  pot- 

afli,  and  other  produce  of  the  country. Vef- 

fels,  generally  fchooners,  receive  the  goods  a» 
Kingfton,.  and  convey  them  in  a  ihort  time  to 
the  landing  or  Queenfton,  below  the  great  falls  of 
Niagara.  Here  the  portage  gives  employment  to 
a  number  of  teams  in  tranfporting  them  to  Chip- 
awa,  as  before  defcribed :  they  are  again  received 
at  Fort  Erie  in  vefTels  of  the  fame  burthen  as  for- 
n^erly,  which  navigate  all  Lake  £rie^  HuroiiA 


**- 


..  ^tJc-f}^-  j^Bifi>i-,,i-*i,.^lJ.  ■».., 


25 

and  Michigan.  The  expencesincnrreJ  durinp;  all 
this  rout  are  comparatively  trifling,  as  you  will 
obfcrve  there  is  but  one  portage,  and  that  only 
ten  miles  in  the  courfe  of  this  communication. 
And  when  ot;^  refleds  on  the  temperate  climate, 
rich  foil,  und  other  natural  advantages  of  this  in- 
terior country,  you  anticipate  a  great  population 

in  a  fliort  time. The  ftreighis  of  Niagara, 

from  its  peculiar  fituation,  being  the  channel 
through  which  all  the  produce  of  the  vafl  couutry 
above  mud  pafs,  is  looked  forward  to  as  a  place  of 
the  firfl  confequence,  and  where  a  farmer  will  at 
all  times  And  a  market  for  his  produce,  the  tranf- 
port  being  eafy  from  thence  to  the  Atlantic. 
Here  have  I  feen  with  amazement  that  famed  ca. 
taradl,  which  exceeds  every  defcription  I  have 
ever  heard  of  it,  but  it  would  be  idle  in  me  to 
pretend  to  give  you  an  idea  of  it — It  flrikes  the 
eye  with  more  grandeur  knd  fublimity  than  the 
pen  can  convey.— Amongft  many  other  natural 
curioiiiies,  a  f'pring,  about  two  miles  above  thefe 
falls,  attracts  the  attention  of  the  curious;  emit« 
ting  a  gas,  or  inflammable  air,  which,  when  con- 
fined in  a  pipe,  and  a  flame  applied  to  it,  will  boil 
the  water  of  a  tea-kettle  in  fifteen  minutes  ; 
whether  this  may  hereafter  be  applied  by  machine- 
ry, to  ufeful  purpofes,  time  will  determine* 


s 


v-.T-^- 


f^..:  . 


p 


I'l ; 


24 

It  was  lately  difcovered  in  clearing  away  and 
burning  the  brufh  under  the  bank  of  the  river, 
to  erecla  mill,  and  was  obferved  after  the  brufh 
was  confumed  to  burn  for  days  together,  to  the 
great  aftonifhment  of  the  inhabitants. 

About  three  hundred  miles  weft  of  this  is  Fort 
Detroit,  lituate  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  llreights, 
between  Lake  Erie  and  Huron,  around  which,  a 
French  fettlement  was  eflabliflied  bevore  the  re- 
duction of  the  province,  but  attending  more  to 
the  Indian  trade  than  agriculture,  made  but  little 
progrels  as  farmers.  The  Englifti  fettlements 
lately  begun  on  the  oppofite  Ihore  are  already  in  a 
higher  ftate  of  cultivation,  however  the  French 
have  fine  orchards,from  whichNiagara  is  atprefent 
fupplied  with  cyder  and  apples.  About  cne  hun- 
dred miles  weft  from  Detroit  lies  a  valuable  coun- 
try on  the  waters  emptying  into  the  MilTifippi, 
now  unhappily  contefted  by  the  United  States  and 
the  natives  of  the  foil. 


To  the  northward  of  Detroit  about  three 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  lies  Fort  Mich  ill  macki- 
iiac;  on  an  ifland  between  Lake  Huron  and  Michi- 
;gan,  is  about  five  miles  round,  and  an  entire  bed  of 
gravel  incapable  of  cultivation,  but  moftremarka« 
bit  ftr  Being  the.general  depot  and  grand  rendez- 


'\>» 


\  ' 


•<->-<«M|B«xi«M>' 


■MM       . 


"^v^ 


^--i 


>r' 


2S 


voos'oF  all  the  Indian  traders,  xvht)  meet  in  the 
month  of  June  from  every  quarter,  deliver  their 
iiirs  and  receive  their  outitts  foe  the  enfuing  year. 
-Spanifh  fettlemenis  many  miles  down  the  Mifli- 
^ppi  are  fupplled  with  Britiih  goods  through 
this  channel,  to  much  greater  advantage  than 
from  New  Orleans,  where  the  rapids  of  the  Mif- 
iifippi  oppoife  almoft  unfurmountable  difficulties 
in  afcending  it. 


'•H.: 


^ 


This  fort,  (he  forts  of  Detroit,  Niagara,  and 
Ofwego,  fell  within  the  United  States,  when 
ihe  lines  of  feparation  were  drawn,  at  the  treaty 
of  peace,  in  the  year  one  rhoufand  fevcn  hundred 
^nd  eighty  three ;  fort  "Miami,  which  was  built 
by  the  Britilh  lately,  is  alfo  within  thofe  lines."^— 
Previous  to  that  peace,  ftores  6f  depofit  had  been 
occupied  a^t  the  foot  of  ^he  Miami  rapids,  where 
the  fort  now  (lands,  £tnd  the  annual  prefents  to 
.the  Indians,  v/hich  they  have  long  been  in  the 
habits  of  receiving  from  the  Britifli  government, 
jvere  there  ilTued.  This  place  .was  prudently  cho- 
iten  for  that  purpdfe,  in  order  to  prevent  the  In- 
dians from  coming  through  the  fettlement,  croud- 
ing  about  and  mining  with  the  troops  at  Detroit, 
where  the  toB  frequent  ufe  of  fpiritous  liquors 
would  have  occafibnexl^umerous  quarreifc  and  ac 
■■  ^  ■      .  '    C 


•■( 


i 


a<f 


cidentfi,  which  might  have  terminated  fatal  to  that 
friendly  intercourfe  and  good  underftanding  which 
has  ever  prevailed  between  the  Engliih  and  the 
natives  in  America. 

Hitherto,  have  I  faid  little  refpe^ling  the  abo- 
rigines of  this  country. — Various  are  the  opinions 
entertained  by  different  people,  and  different 
hiftorians  have  rilked  conjeftures  how  this  conti- 
nent was  originally  peopled ;  their  own  ideas 
of  it  are  not  lefs  curious  than  extraordinary. 
They  do  not  believe,  nor  have  rhey  the  fmalleO: 
vedige  of  traditional  memorial  to  induce  them  to 
believe,  but  that  .hey  are  a  diftindt  race  of  men  from 
the  whites,  fome  of  the  moft  intelligent  amongft 
them  will  at  this  day  relate  in  detail  the  natural 
and  original  hiHory  of  themfelves  and  the  conti- 
nent they  live  upon. They  fully  believe  in  a 

good  and  evil  fpirit,  and  in  a  future  ftate  of  re- 
wards and  puniOjments,  and  have  certain  times 
in  the  year  for  their  particular  modes  of  worfliip, 
when  they  more  generally  endeavor  to  appeafe 
and  avert  the  wrath  of  the  bad,  than  invoke  the 
good  Spirit,  to  which,  however,  after  favorable 
crops,  a  good  hunt,  or  fuccefs  in  war,  they,  in 
a  fervent  manner,  return  thanks.— .They  fay  that 
the  face  of  the  globe  was  firft  covered  with  one 
great  water,  in  which  the  tuf  tie  was  the  principal 


^%- 


1, 


*f^^' 


;'■'*"' 


^^^oasBHi 


J 


27 


s-^*-- 


inhabitant.  That  the  Great  Spirit  caufed  this 
turde  to  grow  to  fuch  a  fize  that  the  waters  could 
no  longer  float  it,  and  in  confequencc,  it  became 
Ifationary,  continmng  to  grow  until  the  mols  and 
rubbifh  coUe<^ing  on  his  back,  became  a  foil,  and 
Ihot  forth  herbs,  buJhes,  andat  length  trees,  and 
now  forms  this  great  ifland  (as  they  term  it)  up- 
on which  they  were  created  a  diftincT;  race  of  men^ 
and  that  the  Great  Spirit  made,  aher  them,  eve- 
ry kind  of  beads  and  birds  of  the  fored,  for  their 
food  and  ufe,  (from  the  firft  twelve  of  which  they 
took  the  names  of  their  twelve  tribes,}  and  that 
thefe  are  as  different  in  their  kind,  from  thofe 
given  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  the  white  people, 
for  their  ufe,  as  they  are  theinfelves  from  us.— 
That  they  encreafed  in  ftrength  and  numbers, 
till  the  white  people  came  ampngft  them,  and  in- 
troduced their  habits,  with  the  ufe  of  ftrong 
drink,  to  which  they  juftly  impute  their  degene*, 
racy. 


I 

•* 


■V  J 


v»-  \ 


When  the  feeling  mind  reflefts  on  the  former 
Situation  of  thefe  credulous  people  ;  the  various 
deception  praftifed  on  them  under  the  malk  of 
friendftjip,  the  artlefs,  and  faithful  attachment 
they  bear  to  the  white  people  where  they  are 
treated  with,  upon  fccming  principles  of  juftice 


■^p 


■■^mmt^MH!^, 


■'   ilijH^ 


■"f- 


■^, 


'-V  ..  V  ,  ^-V-.w-' 


,»n. 


.at«'^ ' 


.^v 


2a 

and  candor,   it  mOit  truly  fyrapathizc  with  thenr 
in  their  prefent  gloomy  profpeiSis. 

This  people  who  were  two  centuiies  ago  pof- 
feiTed  of  the  whole  of  this  vaft  continent,  afford- 
ing them  fpontaneoufly  every  comfort  of  life, 
without  rivals  in  the  enjoyment  of  it,  now  dri» 
ven  back  ftep  by  ftep,  to  the  laft  fpot  of  their 
fertile  foil,  and  that  contefted.  Contefted  by 
the  very  people  whom  they  have  been  led  tocon« 
fider,  as  their  brothers,  fathers  and  proteftors.— 
Prejudice  from  education,  habit,  and  particular 
fituations  in  life  may  warp  the  minds  of  the  bed 
of  men,  but  a  virtuous  and  penetrating  mind,, 
will  always  eilimate  in  a  proper  degree,  the  re- 
lation and  ties  they  have  3  claim,  to  on  asi.  if  it  is 
only  from  our  fuperior  cultivation  c^  mind  and 
manners.  Would  it  not  thevefor^  argue  sgrflsrt- 
cr  degree  of  virtue*,  andi  redound-  ninrec  to.  tiie 
honor  of  humanity,  for  Chriflians,  bordering  od. 
the  remains  of  their  country,  to  turn  their  at- 
tention  to  the  cmlizatiou;  of  tbefe  p«si{}l!r;.  tlvan 
ta  endeav>or  by  art  audi  arms  tot  eoatiriiats:  t&csn; 
fron»  the  fuce  of  a  country,  wbich^  they  Gonqehre 
to  have  been  given  by?  the  Otkaa  Spirit*  tO)  themi 
alone.  1 1  is  idle  to  fay  thaie  peojpid  o^  their  qoridt: 
ideas>  and  lively  imagjnatieH^  i^moipMeai  q\- 
vilizatiofi^  for  where  educai^on,  and  a  proper  at- 


•* 


:»...B»»' yV^ JO-il^*  ~K,,.»>»  ,  »•«•#»— 


7 


e  with  thenr 


^9 


tention  to  their  morals  has  been  beftowed,  Meti 
are  proofs  to  the  contrary. — Inftance  Joreph. 
Brant  a  full  blooded  Indian,  who  having  received 
an  early  education,  though  reliding  ftill  with  the; 
Indians,  is  much  the  gentleman,  eafy  in  his  man- 
ners, mild  and  friendly  in  his  difpofition,  re* 
gular  and  methodical  in  his^  whole  deportment,, 
and  has  by  his  good  examples,  brought  many  ofi 
his  nation  into  a  regular  fyftem  of  hufbandry^ 
and  a  decent  way  of  living  in  their  families*." 

Thus  have  I  now  as  generally  made:  you  ac^ 
quainted  with  this  great  country,  as  corredly 
as  my  fliort  (lay  in  it  would  admit* of ;  but  I  can- 
not conclude  this  without  giving  you  a  piece  of 
information  equally  ne\^  to  every  body  here  as 
tome* 

For  many,  years  paft  adventurers  have  attempt- 
edr  withovit.  fuccefs  tocrofs  to  the  Pacific  Qcearf," 
The  honor  of  this,  arduous  taik  was  left  to  a  IWTr. 
Alexander  Mac  Kenzie,,  a  partner  in  the:  Nbrth- 
weA  ftir  company,  who  lately  returned  by  the  way 
of  the  lakesy  having fu]ly  accompllAted  the  oBjed  of 
his  under  taking  in^the  courfe  of  two  years,  By  tra- 
verfing  the  Continent  of  America  to  the  north- 
ward of  weft,  over  vaftmonntains  covered  with 
ice,  which  obliged  him  to  make  new  canoes,  wher^*^ 


>m»M»^ 


m.t' 


^P 


"  «^«iittt#l»M««AM4ftiMlMI|N 


"mi  tmiwimMf"'*^**^  ■  **^ 


•'*; 


-,>  ,*- 


M" 


*?■■-*■, 


^.t 


30 

#^e?1^a|^tllie^itcrs  in  his  favor.  On  hrs-  ar- 
rivJwelSstoaft;  feven  weeks  fail  from  Canton 
in  Chinap  and  2  degrees  to  the  north  of  Nootka 
Sound,  he  found  the  Indians  without  fire-arms,. 
but  furniflied  >^ith  £ome  cloathing  and  ornaments,, 
principally  Spaniflx  mauufaclure.  The  Indians 
accompanying  him  were  not  underftood  by  thofe 
on  that  coail,  and  appeared  to  be  perfect  llr^ngers 
to  one  another*  It  was  with  diificulty  Jafe  could 
reconcile  them  to  him  as  a  white  ifian,  on  ac- 
count, as  he  underftood,  of  fome'  injury  given 
them  by  people  of  his  color,  a  few  days  before 
that  time.  Thefe  are  fuppoled  to  have  been 
the  Americans  horn  the  port  of  New  York,  who 
had  touched  there  in  their  trade  with  China.. 


m 


;■.*»' 


I 


»-. 


mi 


.#■: 


m. 


After  remaining  a  fe^  days  and  making  the- 
nece(&ry  obfepvations,  he  returned  and  brought- 
along  with  him  fome  valuable  ikins  of  the  fea; 
o^cr,  and  other  natural curiofities,  peculiar  to  that 
cpafl;  but  as  the  gentleman  himfelf  has  it  iti- 
ideate  go  foon  to  London,  I  have  little  doubr 
but  he  will  meet  with  the  reward  due  to  his  ex- 
ertions, and  give  to  the  world  an  account  of  the 
wild  and  uninhabited  tradb  he  traverfed* 


m-^^ 


^v  \ 


T '  ■    .  ^^ 


'V  %i 


l,V---  — 


Ji'i       -V        f,  rl^. 


ant  on 

ootka 

arms,. 

nents,..' 

ndians 

tliofe 
ingers 
:  could 
on  ac- 

giveii 
before 

Been 
:.  who 


"""W^'i 


ife 


>y^^^B 


JR^' 


jg  the 
•ought 
he  fea 
to  that 
i  it  iti- 
doubr 
his  ex* 
of  the 


'  '?i«Sfe.*. 


!?!<»»** 


# 


'^^i.aw'',!?-: 


^:«li|j| 


